Dear Editor,

The acting Commissioner of Police is responding to a letter written by VV Puran, Attorney-at-Law, under the caption “Dataram has not breached judge’s order” (GC 08.01.25)

In the letter VV Puran says that Mr Dataram has not breached the Order of his Honour Justice Jainarayan Singh and that the Commissioner of Police should read and understand the Order made by the Court. He went on further to say that the Order made by the Court states that “Mr Barry Dataram report to a police station on Mondays and Fridays of each and every week as directed by the Commissioner of Police” and that Mr Dataram cannot be held accountable for any breakdown of communication between the Commissioner and his ranks.

The acting Commissioner of Police is refuting what is apparently Mr Puran’s interpretation of the order. The Order of the Court, a copy of which is in the possession of the acting Commissioner, states clearly that “It is further ordered that the order of this court dated 13th day of December, 2007 wherein Barry Dataram was placed on bail in the sum of $100,000.00 and required to report on Mondays and Fridays of each week for as long as required by the Commissioner of Police remains in force”.

The acting Commissioner of Police is maintaining that Barry Dataram remains in breach of the order of the Court in that he has not reported since his release.

Further, he is calling on Mr VV Puran, if he has any knowledge of the whereabouts of his client Mr Barry Dataram, to disclose this information to the police.

Yours faithfully,

Ivelaw Whittaker

Public Relations and Press Officer

Guyana Police Force